The Great Gatsby (1926)
Drama | 8 November 1926
Director:
Herbert BrenonWriters:
Becky Gardiner, Elizabeth MeehanCinematographer:
Leo ToverEditor:
Edgar AdamsProduction Company:
Famous Players-Lasky Corp.F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel has been the basis of several films and television programs. For information on the other versions, please consult the entry for the 1949 Paramount release of The Great Gatsby, directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Alan Ladd and Betty Field.
In Dec 1925, a stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby was announced in a Var article, which noted that Owen Davis was writing the play, to be produced by William A. Brady. Film rights negotiations on Fitzgerald’s novel had been halted by the stage rights deal, which made it impossible for a film version to be released before the stage play debuted. Several months later, items the 29 Apr 1926 and 11 May 1926 issues of Film Daily announced that Henry Ginsberg had acquired screen rights to Owen Davis’s stage adaptation, and Famous Players-Lasky Corp. was expected to come on board.
Filming was scheduled to commence 1 Jun 1926, according to the 23 May 1926 Film Daily. The 30 May 1926 issue announced the casting of Warner Baxter as “Jay Gatsby,” and named Marie Halvey as continuity clerk. On 20 Jun 1926, Film Daily confirmed that production was in full swing at Famous Players Studios in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, NY, on Sixth and Pierce Aves. Weeks later, the 12 Jul 1926 Film Daily reported that filming would be finished on 19 Jul 1926, although it may have continued through late July. The 7 Aug 1926 Exhibitors Herald stated that, during production, tennis professional George Alcorn had been hired to stage tennis scenes. ...
F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel has been the basis of several films and television programs. For information on the other versions, please consult the entry for the 1949 Paramount release of The Great Gatsby, directed by Elliott Nugent and starring Alan Ladd and Betty Field.
In Dec 1925, a stage adaptation of The Great Gatsby was announced in a Var article, which noted that Owen Davis was writing the play, to be produced by William A. Brady. Film rights negotiations on Fitzgerald’s novel had been halted by the stage rights deal, which made it impossible for a film version to be released before the stage play debuted. Several months later, items the 29 Apr 1926 and 11 May 1926 issues of Film Daily announced that Henry Ginsberg had acquired screen rights to Owen Davis’s stage adaptation, and Famous Players-Lasky Corp. was expected to come on board.
Filming was scheduled to commence 1 Jun 1926, according to the 23 May 1926 Film Daily. The 30 May 1926 issue announced the casting of Warner Baxter as “Jay Gatsby,” and named Marie Halvey as continuity clerk. On 20 Jun 1926, Film Daily confirmed that production was in full swing at Famous Players Studios in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, NY, on Sixth and Pierce Aves. Weeks later, the 12 Jul 1926 Film Daily reported that filming would be finished on 19 Jul 1926, although it may have continued through late July. The 7 Aug 1926 Exhibitors Herald stated that, during production, tennis professional George Alcorn had been hired to stage tennis scenes.
Various publicity items published around the time of filming made much ado about actress Lois Wilson bobbing her hair for the role of “Daisy Buchanan.” Although bobbed hair was very popular at the time, the actress had formerly vowed not to cut her hair short, as noted in the Aug 1926 Motion Picture Classic.
Theatrical release occurred on 8 Nov 1926. A review in the 28 Nov 1926 Film Daily called the picture “too long for the amount of story” but praised the “good cast and production.” In an interview with Warner Baxter published in the May 1927 Motion Picture, Baxter claimed that director Herbert Brenon had resigned from the picture after viewing the final cut.
Items in the 29 Jun 1926 and 9 Jul 1926 Film Daily, 3 Jul 1926 Motion Picture News, and Jan 1927 Picture-Play listed the following as cast members: Ruby Blaine; Felix Krembs; Jane Jennings, in the role of Jay Gatsby’s mother; and Nancy Kelley, in the role of Daisy Buchanan’s child.
The National Film Preservation Board (NFPB) included this film on its list of Lost U.S. Silent Feature Films as of October 2019.
On a summer night in Louisville, in 1917, Jay Gatsby, a young Army officer, falls in love with Daisy Fay, a society belle. Before leaving for the war, Gatsby swears that he will raise himself to her social station, and they vow their undying love. Nine years later, Gatsby, through mysterious association with a Charles Wolf, has come to possess great wealth and a Long Island estate, while Daisy, swayed by parental authority, has married Tom Buchanan, a dissolute blueblood, who also maintains an affair with Myrtle Wilson, a garage owner's wife. At a party given by Gatsby, Daisy declares that she still cares for him. Later, Tom charges Gatsby with making love to his wife and with bootlegging. Daisy prepares to leave with Gatsby in his roadster. Meanwhile, Wilson upbraids his wife for her infidelity; and dashing onto the road, Myrtle is struck down by Gatsby's car. Although Daisy was driving, Gatsby confesses responsibility to the police. Friendless and alone, Gatsby roams through his garden and is shot by the vengeful ...
On a summer night in Louisville, in 1917, Jay Gatsby, a young Army officer, falls in love with Daisy Fay, a society belle. Before leaving for the war, Gatsby swears that he will raise himself to her social station, and they vow their undying love. Nine years later, Gatsby, through mysterious association with a Charles Wolf, has come to possess great wealth and a Long Island estate, while Daisy, swayed by parental authority, has married Tom Buchanan, a dissolute blueblood, who also maintains an affair with Myrtle Wilson, a garage owner's wife. At a party given by Gatsby, Daisy declares that she still cares for him. Later, Tom charges Gatsby with making love to his wife and with bootlegging. Daisy prepares to leave with Gatsby in his roadster. Meanwhile, Wilson upbraids his wife for her infidelity; and dashing onto the road, Myrtle is struck down by Gatsby's car. Although Daisy was driving, Gatsby confesses responsibility to the police. Friendless and alone, Gatsby roams through his garden and is shot by the vengeful Wilson.
Viewed by AFI
Partially Viewed
Offscreen Credit
Name Occurs Before Title
AFI Life Achievement AwardTOP SEARCHES
Down Three Dark Streets
The film's working title was Case File: FBI . The Gordons was a joint name under which husband and wife Gordon and Mildred Gordon wrote the novel on ... >>
Singin' in the Rain
According to a 5 Feb 1951 HR news item, Carleton Carpenter was to co-star in the film with Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds, and a 19 Mar ... >>
Written on the Wind
According to contemporary sources, Robert Wilder’s novel Written on the Wind was inspired by the notorious 1932 death of Zachary Smith Reynolds, millionaire son of tobacco ... >>
Psycho
Actor Vaughn Taylor's surname is misspelled "Tayler" in the onscreen credits. Several Jun and Jul 1959 HR news items erroneously refer to the film as Psyche. ... >>
Gone with the Wind
[ Note from the Editors : the following information is based on contemporary news items, feature articles, reviews, interviews, memoranda and corporate records. Information obtained from modern sources ... >>
